Just Got Engaged? Here Are the 11 Things You Actually Need to Do First
You’re engaged (!!) Cue the ring selfies, happy tears, and the “OMG TELL US EVERYTHING” texts from every direction.
But once the champagne settles and your phone stops buzzing (for like, five minutes), the real question kicks in:
What now? Are you supposed to start booking things? Picking colors?
Telling your aunt she can’t bring 5 plus-ones?
Before the overwhelm creeps in, take a breath. You don’t need to plan the whole wedding this week—but there are a few smart, sanity-saving things you’ll want to do first.
Here’s your no-fluff, actually-helpful guide to the First 11 things to do after getting engaged.
1. Tell Your Inner Circle—Personally
Before the Instagram post. Before the group chat pop-off. Call or visit the people closest to you and share the news. It means more than a caption ever could.
You don’t need to get everyone on the same Zoom call or send a carrier pigeon—just start with parents, siblings, best friends, or anyone who would be genuinely hurt to find out secondhand.
2. Stare at Your Ring Like a Psycho.
It’s fine. It’s normal. You’re in your “main character moment.” Every light source is now a ring light. Every photo? A hand pose. Embrace it.
Bonus move: casually brush your hair back every 30 seconds just to show off the sparkle. You earned this.
3. Get Your Ring Insured
Yes, I’m going to be that person. If it’s on your hand, it needs to be insured.
It doesn’t matter if it was $400 or $14,000—it's sentimental, and accidents happen.
Call your renter’s/home insurance or look into standalone jewelry insurance. It’s cheap peace of mind.
4. Have a Real Conversation About the Wedding You Both Want
Sit down with your fiancé and talk about what you both actually want before the opinions start flying in from every direction. Big or small? Local or destination? Church or garden or taco truck?
Talk about what feels right, and write it down.
This doesn’t have to be a full-blown planning session.
Just make sure you’re on the same page about the overall direction before the Pinterest monster takes over.
(*Hold up...
Before you start the wedding madness, don't forget to grab my FREE Wedding Checklist.
It’s everything you need right from the moment you’re engaged, so you won’t forget anything!
Just pop in your email, and I’ll send it over. 💌*)
5. Set Boundaries Early (With Love)
This one’s not glamorous, but it’s crucial. If you already know your mum wants a royal wedding and you want a backyard brunch, this is the time to kindly start setting expectations.
Boundaries now = way less drama later. And it doesn’t have to be harsh—it’s about clarity and kindness.
6. Start Talking Budget—Yes, Now
It’s not sexy, but it’s essential.
Don’t wait. Don’t guess. Don’t assume. Start talking money early.
Will anyone be contributing? What’s the max you both feel comfortable spending?
What are your top priorities? (Food? Photography? Dress?)
You don’t need every detail now—but you do need a rough framework so you don’t plan a $60K wedding on a $6K budget.
7. Get a Shared Wedding Email
Create one. Trust me. It’ll save your sanity when you’re getting venue quotes, vendor contracts, Pinterest links, calendar invites, and seating chart updates all in one place.
Plus, you’ll avoid missing important stuff in the sea of online shopping receipts.
8. Back Up Your Engagement Photos (Even the Ones You Didn't Post)
If you did a little photoshoot or have phone pics from the proposal—back them up.
Don’t rely on Instagram to be your archive. Drop them in Google Drive or somewhere safe.
And if you haven’t taken any yet, don’t stress. You have time. Real moments are more important than perfect poses.
.
.
(Before you move on, don't forget to **SAVE THIS PIN** so you can come back to it again later)
9. Start a “Master Doc” or Get a Planner That Keeps Everything Together
Whether it’s a digital planner, a shared doc—you’ll need one place to track everything.
Don’t fall into the trap of 32 sticky notes and 4 different “planning” apps.
Get organized early. It will make the next few months feel 1000x lighter.
10. Choose a Rough Date Range (Not Just a Dream Date)
You don’t need to book anything yet. But start thinking about seasons, months, or general timeframes. Are you dreaming of a spring garden wedding? Fall foliage? End-of-year vibes?
Picking a date range helps you move forward without locking yourself into anything too soon. (Especially when venues and vendors start asking.)
11. Protect Your Time and Energy
You are going to get so much advice, so many unsolicited opinions, and more Instagram ads than your brain can handle.
This is your gentle reminder: you don’t need to reply to everyone right away. You don’t need to have answers yet. You don’t need to start dress shopping tomorrow.
What you do need is to protect your peace. Save screenshots, take breaks, unfollow accounts that stress you out, and remember—it’s your wedding. You don’t have to explain your choices to anyone.
Conclusion
You Don’t Have to Plan It All Today.
You’ve got time. You’ve got help (hi, it’s me). And you’re officially engaged, not buried in binder stress. Savor it. Screenshot this. Come back to it, and Cross things off slowly.
The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress.
(Also, If you haven’t posted your engagement yet, I’ve got some cute captions you can steal.
*SAVE THIS PIN* so you’ve got them handy when it’s time!)
Related Post